How to Calculate Average Overtime

A nonexempt employee is not excluded from federal or state overtime pay requirements. Under federal law, you are supposed to pay overtime to nonexempt workers who work more than 40 hours for the week. Generally, an employer pays overtime at 1.5 times the employee's regular pay rate. If an employee works multiple jobs at different pay rates with the same employer, to figure the overtime rate, the employer must first determine the weighted average for the regular pay rates.

Add the employee's total earnings from all jobs worked for the week. For example, she works 22 hours on one job at $11 per hour and 22 hours on another job at $12 per hour.

Multiply the weighted average rate of pay by 1.5 to arrive at the average overtime rate.

Overtime rate: $11.50 x 1.5 = $17.25

Regular wages: 40 hours x $11.50 = $460

Overtime wages = 4 hours x $17.25 = $69

Total weekly pay = $460 + $69 = $529

Tips & Warnings

Overtime wages are normally due by the employee's next regular payday. Consult your state labor department, which might have a different deadline and require overtime payment for work hours exceeding a certain amount for the day and hours worked on the seventh consecutive day of the week.